"I am very happy to have had the opportunity to play in the NCAA Championships," said Soares. "I am disappointed that I did not play better, but this experience will make me hungrier to get better to help this team."

Soares began the day as the first alternate, but was slotted into the field after Oklahoma's #5 Guillermo Alcorta pulled out after the Sooners' appearance in the NCAA title match on Tuesday night.

"Felipe was tied 3-3 and leading 40-0 on his serve and then he rushed things and lost some confidence," said Red Raider head coach Tim Siegel. "He will continue to mature and will handle this better next year."

Soares and Vinsant traded serve in the first set until it was 3-3. That is when the A&M sophomore picked up the first break of the match after battling back from 40-0. Vinsant held serve and picked up another break for a 6-3 win in the first set.

Despite long rallies, Soares could not convert late-game points, as Vinsant reeled off five straight games in the second set to take a 5-0 lead. Soares held serve to get it to 5-1, but it was too little, too late, as Vinsant won the set and the match, 6-3, 6-1.

Soares, who closes out the season 22-12 in singles play, is just the fourth Texas Tech sophomore to earn a spot in the NCAA Championships. He is also the 14th Red Raider in program history to advance to the individual tournament.